Nadal, Djokovic set up final showdown

Seven-time champion Rafael Nadal reached the Monte Carlo Masters final on Saturday with a 6-3, 6-4 win over France's Gilles Simon and will face Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final.

It was Nadal’s 41st successive win in the principality. World No 1 Djokovic battled into his second career Monte Carlo final, overcoming a stiff challenge from Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Rafael Nadal returns to Gilles Simon. Pics/Getty Images, AFP

Novak Djokovic plays a backhand against Tomas Berdych

Djokovic reached his 45th ATP final (30-14) and will be playing in his 19th at the Masters 1000 level. Djokovic has played on despite learning of the death of his grandfather in Serbia this week. “It was quite a match,” said Djokovic. “There were lots of unforced errors in really, really difficult conditions. The wind was blowing very hard, changing directions all the time. “We had a lot of double-faults. Tomas tosses very high on serve which didn't help and I didn’t serve so well either. It was a matter of who would be better-positioned on court and who got luckier. I was that player in the end.”